Smith, Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 601 accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO, July 24, 1994
On July 24, 1994 at about 7:07 pm local time, a Smith, Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 601, registered N63317, was destroyed in an accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO (Palm Beach International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORT FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1994 · about 7:07 pm local time
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean, AO · Palm Beach International
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Smith, Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 601 AEROSTAR 6
- Registration
- N63317 · no longer on the register · serial 61-0054-103
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING CRUISE FLIGHT SMOKE AND HEAT STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, FOLLOWED BY FAILURE OF THE COMMUNICATION RADIOS. HE THEN TURNED OFF THE MASTER BATTERY SWITCH AND SMOKE 'POURED' OUT FROM UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE ELECTED TO DITCH THE AIRPLANE NEAR A BOAT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,400 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 6,350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 28, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-P1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PBI West Palm Bch FL at 6:58 pm
- Destination: MYA Walker Cay OF
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from PBI, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.